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Gladijave

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I just want to know what is wrong specifically with the tops. It’s gotta be more than a cosmetic/surface thing.

Also, the mod tops were delayed before all this happened with the mic tops. From what I’ve read, they are manufactured of different materials, so it seems weird that both hard tops are not functional, unless there is something more fundamentally wrong with the design. Or maybe it’s unrelated? I’m having a hard time finding out the answer, because 99% of the hard top posts on the Bronco forum are just people freaking out lol.
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jay21mojave

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FORD - The Better Idea... and I don't care what happens to the International Scout Look A Like Bronco.
 

Klutch

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I just want to know what is wrong specifically with the tops. It’s gotta be more than a cosmetic/surface thing.
- The liners shed. The fuzzy stuffs separates and rains onto the interior

- The liners are often installed poorly. Excess glue is all over the place and completely missing in areas where it should be to hold the liner to the roof. Thus, it looks lousy and some parts of the liners aren't attached to the roof

- The removable top pieces make noise when the vehicle is in motion. The TFL Off Road guys tried applying silicone lubricant to the weatherstripping, but it made no difference.

- I haven't seen any reports of the Bronco tops leaking, but many owners are concerned about leaking considering the poor quality of the top.

All this stuff might be no big deal on a cheap, economy vehicle. But the Bronco is far from cheap. To repeat, the TFL Off Road Bronco was over $70,000 out the door. And it's not even a top of the line example.
 

smlobx

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I just can’t get over the fender extensions. It looks like some guy went to Lowe’s and bought some landscape edging and glued it onto the truck…???
 

ReimundKrohn

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Hey ya’ll, new member here. I turn 50 this year and decided it was the perfect year to buy myself my dream vehicle. Up until last year, that had been the Gladiator (and prior to that, earlier year Wranglers). I always held off for two reasons:

1). I have the option of a free company vehicle, and those ain’t been bad (Escalade, Sequioa, currently Rav-4)

2). I have had to travel extensively, and an SFA with 80,000 km per year highway miles ain’t a lot of fun.

When the Bronco was announced, I was stoked - reserved and ordered as soon as the order banks opened up. I had a 2 door on order, received my VIN in April, and my (1st) scheduled build date of “week of June 28”. Since then, all apparently due to the hardtop issues, I was delayed and delayed… and delayed and delayed…. And now I am indefinitely delayed until they figure their sh*t out and then… if my VIN expires Dec 31st before I am built? Who knows. Not Ford.

Anyway, I am going to see a 2020 MT Gladiator Rubicon Monday. Any advice on what I should be on the look out for, by way of possible issues?
 

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maligator

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Hey ya’ll, new member here. I turn 50 this year and decided it was the perfect year to buy myself my dream vehicle. Up until last year, that had been the Gladiator (and prior to that, earlier year Wranglers). I always held off for two reasons:

1). I have the option of a free company vehicle, and those ain’t been bad (Escalade, Sequioa, currently Rav-4)

2). I have had to travel extensively, and an SFA with 80,000 km per year highway miles ain’t a lot of fun.

When the Bronco was announced, I was stoked - reserved and ordered as soon as the order banks opened up. I had a 2 door on order, received my VIN in April, and my (1st) scheduled build date of “week of June 28”. Since then, all apparently due to the hardtop issues, I was delayed and delayed… and delayed and delayed…. And now I am indefinitely delayed until they figure their sh*t out and then… if my VIN expires Dec 31st before I am built? Who knows. Not Ford.

Anyway, I am going to see a 2020 MT Gladiator Rubicon Monday. Any advice on what I should be on the look out for, by way of possible issues?
If it makes you feel better I know people that ordered July 2020 and never even got a Vin, you should consider yourself lucky that you made it that far and they pretended they were going to actually try to build your order :CWL:.

If you find a Gladiator you want, you should snap it up. I ordered a glad early july and it came 5-6 weeks later. People that ordered after me have hit some snags (delays until sep/oct). So it's likely dealerships will have less options on the lot. you can read more about that in this thread if you want.

Sorry to hear of another Bronco order holder, but you made it farther than anybody I know by getting that vin/and even a estimated production date lol.
 

ReimundKrohn

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If it makes you feel better I know people that ordered July 2020 and never even got a Vin, you should consider yourself lucky that you made it that far and they pretended they were going to actually try to build your order :CWL:.

If you find a Gladiator you want, you should snap it up. I ordered a glad early july and it came 5-6 weeks later. People that ordered after me have hit some snags (delays until sep/oct). So it's likely dealerships will have less options on the lot. you can read more about that in this thread if you want.

Sorry to hear of another Bronco order holder, but you made it farther than anybody I know by getting that vin/and even a estimated production date lol.
Thanks, I will check out that thread!

There are quite a few Gladiators on the lots local to me. Jeep dealers here in Alberta don’t seem to keep Wranglers around, but sell Unlimited’s shortly after they land. Gladiators look to sit an awfully long time, comparatively, so hopefully that helps my cause!

…And I was “lucky” enough to get five build dates on my Bronco so far. June 28, move to July 19, move to August 23, move to August 26, move to September 27…. Move to sometime after the new roofs hit production for the recalls (October?) and the Dirt Mountain Broncos get new roofs and the last the of unscheduled First Editions get roofs….Unless that happens after Dec 31st 2021, at which point my VIN is null and void.
 

treadmark

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I’m waiting on my fifth Jeep, a JTR, to be built. I’ve greatly enjoyed all my Jeeps. I’ve also owned three Fords and had excellent experiences with them. It is great Ford has taken the leap to bring back the Bronco. As with any first year production, issues are to be expected. I hope they resolve this top matter, and continue to be competition with our Jeeps. Maybe we’ll have less shortcomings to accept as “Jeep things.”
 

Kane County 617

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Can't really say that's any different than all of the Gladiators with leaking rear windows... Of which mine is one.

Ford did admit the design was flawed from get go. I think the sad thing is they had to have known this was a problem months ago. Pretty upsetting they let it go as long as they did. Oh well, I cancelled my Bronco and will wait until at least MY23 so they can hopefully get the issues worked out.
Hey, I have a Bronco ordered, too, and I was just told it's sitting at the MAP lot until October at the earliest, but more than likely, November or December, until they're able to replace the top. So thousands of Broncos are being exposed to the elements, like bird poop, industrial pollution, sun, and rain! I'm not very happy, which is why I'm back to this forum! I contacted Daniel at Gupton today for my dream color Geck green on a Sport S for pricing. My concern is the chip delay with the Gladiators!
 

Alligatorgun

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No surprises here. When Ford sent the highly anticipated “build timeline estimate” email in late May I knew something was up. It was just a bunch of nonsense offering nothing close to a commitment on timelines. I figured they were having problems and just wanted to keep us on the hook. Meanwhile I was watching the trade value of my F-150 explode upwards ($10,000 in six months)! I subsequently decided to 99 (postpone) my order, and ordered a Gladiator! Back in early June I received my truck in three weeks from order entry…incredible! Now unfortunately it seems like anyone who selects “plan B” and tries to order a Gladiator will wait much, much longer than that, what a shame. I like my 6 speed Mojave so much, I’m not really sure when I’ll make the switch to a Bronco!!
 

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Dryfly24

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I haven’t read through this whole thread but I’ll just say I don’t take any pleasure in the failure of any American automobile company regardless of brand.
 

Kane County 617

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No surprises here. When Ford sent the highly anticipated “build timeline estimate” email in late May I knew something was up. It was just a bunch of nonsense offering nothing close to a commitment on timelines. I figured they were having problems and just wanted to keep us on the hook. Meanwhile I was watching the trade value of my F-150 explode upwards ($10,000 in six months)! I subsequently decided to 99 (postpone) my order, and ordered a Gladiator! Back in early June I received my truck in three weeks from order entry…incredible! Now unfortunately it seems like anyone who selects “plan B” and tries to order a Gladiator will wait much, much longer than that, what a shame. I like my 6 speed Mojave so much, I’m not really sure when I’ll make the switch to a Bronco!!
WOW! Good for you that everything worked out! Hopefully, I will get into something soon, at least before the holidays, right!
 

MPMB

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I haven’t read through this whole thread but I’ll just say I don’t take any pleasure in the failure of any American automobile company regardless of brand.
When you have "X" years of building cars, generational knowledge into the design and production, there should be minimal hiccups in the end product.

Ford's history of ignoring problems or refusal to acknowledge problems have put them on my s**t list. The Bronco was the lone exception where I'd tell Ford to take my money. Now, I doubt I'll ever spend money on a newer Ford.
 

Challenger85

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I definitely don’t find this funny. I reserved this in July of 2020 for my wife as a surprise. Ford has done nothing but F this entire process up. I’ve driven a 4 door squatch, it’s a SERIOUSLY bad ass vehicle! But all the delays and top issues is so aggravating. They’ve ruined all the fun the car was supposed to be for us. I had to just tell her because she kept telling me how bad she wanted to order one. Now she’s a 2022 because she’s a 2 door, so frustrating. She refuses to switch to any other vehicle even after everything.
 

Kane County 617

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I definitely don’t find this funny. I reserved this in July of 2020 for my wife as a surprise. Ford has done nothing but F this entire process up. I’ve driven a 4 door squatch, it’s a SERIOUSLY bad ass vehicle! But all the delays and top issues is so aggravating. They’ve ruined all the fun the car was supposed to be for us. I had to just tell her because she kept telling me how bad she wanted to order one. Now she’s a 2022 because she’s a 2 door, so frustrating. She refuses to switch to any other vehicle even after everything.
The fiasco at Ford is insane! I ordered a Bronco on July 13th, 2020, and still nothing! Actually, my Bronco has been built (08/05), purchased it from Grangers, but it'll be sitting a MAP for months (Oct, Nov, or Dec)! So when I found out Gecko Green was available, I'm now getting a Gladiator Sport S from Gupton! I just want a vehicle that you can doors/top off, especially in Gecko Green. Each have great pluses and negatives, but Gecko Green wins!! Now, what am I going to do with two vehicles! Yikes!
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